Dry-pipe valve



Nov. 4 1924. 1,513,977

J. E. EVANS ET AL DRY PIPE VALVE Filed Oct. 26. 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet l s W MSW A W". m u B IEB /////W///%/ w m. W

Nam 4 1924.

J. E. EVANS ET AL PIPE VLVE Filed Oct. 26. 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 \nvenTors. John E. Evans Francis H.Griffi1hs WWW i atented Nov. 4, 192

UNITED STATES JOHN EDWARD EVANS, OF NETH YORK, AND

YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE RELIABLE AUTQMATIG SPRINKLER COMIPAHY,

FRANCI s 1-1. snirvrrns, or "romances, new

INC., on

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION NEV! YORK.

DRY-PIEE VALVE.

Application filed (Hitcher 26 To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN EDWARD EVANS and FRANCiS. H. GRIFFITHS, citizens of the "United States, and residents of New York,

county of New York, State of New York, and Yonkers, county of iVestchester, State of New York, respectively, have invented an Improvement in Dry-Pipe Valves, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to dry-pipe valves and particularly to a latch device for holding the water and air valves open after they ,have been tripped.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved latch device for this purpose which is carried by the air valve and is constructed so that it is moved into operative position to lock the air and water valves open by the final opening movement of the air valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved latch for this purpose which is constructed so that after it has been moved into itslocking position by the movement of the air valve it will be maintained in such position by the locked air valve. The construction of the device is such that after, the air and water valves re locked in their open position and the latch is thereby locked in its locking position said latch can be released only by removing the hand-hole cover plate with which dry-pipe valves areusually provided and through-which access may be had to the working parts thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings wherein we have shown a selected embodiment of our invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a drypipe valve embodying our invention; showing the water and air valves closed;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section of said dry-pipe valve showing the air and water valves locked in their open position.

The dry-pipe valve herein illustrated is of the usual type which comprises a casing 1 having a water inlet 2 terminating in a water valve seat 3 and an outlet 4c which leads to the system. The water inlet is controlled by a water valve 5 as usual in dry,

shown as carried by a swinging member 9 1823. Serial No. 670,862.

pipe valves, said water valve being herein that is )ivoted to the casin as shown at 6.

The air valve which holds the water valve closed is indicated generally at 7 and it seats upon the air valve seat 8, the latter being herein shown as situated in an inclined plane relative to the water valve seat 3.

The air valve, which is subjected to the air pressure in the system, is pivotally mounted on the swinging member 9 as shown at 10 and is 01 larger area then the Water valve, as usual in. dry-pipe valves, so that when the valves are seated a relatively small air pressure in the system will suffice to hold the water. valveclosed against the higher water pressure.

It will be observed that the air valve is pivotally mounted on the water valve structure so that when the water valve opens from the position shown in Fig. 1 into that shown in Fig. 2 the air valve will be carried with it. In order to guide the air valve in its opening movement the latter-is provided with an extension 11 carrying a guide roll 12 which rides on a guiding surface 13 formed on the casing, this guiding surface being so shaped as to cause the air valve to swing into the position shown in Fig. 2 relative to the water valve when the valves are opened.

14 indicates a pivotally mounted latch which "functions to hold the air valve from becoming seated again if it is lifted oif its seat slightly, this being a feature common to dry-pipe valves. Associated with the latch 14 is a drip valve 15 which is normally held open by the latch when the valves are closed thus allowing the neutral chamber 16 to be drained, but which is closed when the valves lift and the latch becomes operative all as usual in dry-pipe valves.

The present invention relates to a novel latch device for holding the water and air valves in their open position shown in Fig. 2 after they have been moved into such position by the giving way of a sprinkler head or some other cause. The latch is indicated at 17 and it is shown as pivotally mounted on the pin 18 on which the roll 12 is journalled. This latch co-operates with an abutment face 19 on a projection or abutment 2O I l 'port 24 and "oppositewhe abutmentlace 19*, asshown latter, therefore,

' While we'have that extends from the removable cover 21 of the hand' hole through whichi access :to thevalves is obtained.

When the valves are closed the latch l7 rests against the air valve as shown in Fig.

l and means are provided whereby when the valves are opened the latch is thrown into operative relation to the abutment face 19 bv the final opening movement ofthe'air valve. For this purpose the latch has rigid therewith a laterally extending tail 22 which is adapted to engage an abutment face. or ledge 23- fo-rmed fon -the casing -1 just before thevalvesereach their completelyppen position; The engagement of the tail 22 with the ieag ea causes -the latchto be swung "positively away position in which it rests against the supwith the end thereof situated clearly in Fig. 2. The latch is held by gravity in it's-operativeposition against the supperm-4 and co-operates with the abutment =face19 to hold the valves positively in their open'position. I

The lug or projection $011 which vthe abutment facef19' is formed also acts as a support for the air: valve when the latter is open, said abutmenthavingthe supporting face 25 against which thefair 'valve'rests.

This projection 20" is: carried on the handho'l'e cover 21 so that'when'saidxcover'isremoved fin' o-rdrfto resea-tthe valve the abutment face :19 will also bereinoved "thus freein'g' the "latch and permitting I the valvesto .be closed."

'It i will be observed: that t in this 'construc- 1 tionth'e -1atch is moved into its" operative position" by the final opening "movement of'the air alve' and that when'the latch been thus carried'into its operative position itis held thereby the locked" air valve'andthe cannot be reset until the:

hand-hole eover21 has been removedi ed embodi-ment-ofour invention we do'not wish to be limited to the constructionalfea tures disclosed." We claim:

1. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination With acasihg, a pivotally mounted'water from the air "valve andinto a illustratedherein a selectvalve therein and an air valve pivotally carriedtby thewater valve,' of a latch carried 'by the air" valve; an abutment co-operating with said latch to hold the air valve open, I

operative position by the locked air valve;

3. A dry-pipe valve comprising a'casing, a pivotally mounted water valve; an air valve pivotally carriedby thewater valve anda latch carried by the air valve, said casing. having 'a projection which constitutes a rest for the air valve when the latter is open and also an abutment to -co+operate with the latch to lock the air valve in open position.

4. A having a hand-hole and a removablecover therefor, a pivotally mounted waterf valve,

an air valvepivotallybarriedby the water dry-pipe valve comprising a casing valve; and a latch carried by the air'valve,

said coverhavin'g a projection which con stitutes a rest forthe air valve when the latteris open andalso having an abutme'nt to co-operate with the latch toholdthe air valve in open position. 7

5. A dry-pipe valve comprising a casing," V

a water valve-pivotally mounted therein, an airvalve pivotally carried by the'water valve alatchpivotally carried on the air valve and an'-abutment"carried by the casing with ivl iich thelatch co-operates to hold the" air valveopen, said'casing havin'g'a ledge with which the arm engages during the'final opening, movement of the air valvethereby to swing thelatch into operative position;

In'testnn'ony ,whereoflwe have s-igned our names to this specification;

' JOHN EDWARD EVANS.

FRANCIS" n. GRIFFITHS. 

